Northwest Reverb - Reflections by James Bash and others about classical music in the Pacific Northwest and beyond

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Levine controversy continues to swirl

Today's Boston Globe states that James Levine has been working as the Boston Symphony's music director without having signed a contract. The means that the administration could fire him at any time. Of course, that would damage a lot of good will between the conductor and the orchestra as well as its patrons, who expect Levine to recover from his latest round of surgery and return to lead the orchestra. Levine's next scheduled appearance with the orchestra will take place in July at Tanglewood when he conduct's Mahler's Symphony No. 2 "Resurrection." That's an apt title.

In the meantime, Oregon Symphony's MD Carlos is in Boston to lead the orchestra in concerts starting tomorrow evening. One can't help but think that the BSO are keeping a sharp eye on Kalmar. You never know.